Newsletter...

CHRIS and I had to write a letter for the Stewpot Newsletter (august edition)...I thought I would post a sneak peek....


He Said, She Said: Thoughts and New Perspectives
By: Chris Barker and Ashlea Combs
Chris Barker and Ashlea Combs arrived in Jackson, Mississippi on the same day, from the same part of the country, for the same internship. Shortly after beginning the internship, however, it was obvious that it would be their different perspectives that shaped what they saw. This became clear as they began to organize Stewpot’s annual Christmas in July food drive. Chris saw an old and unstructured list of donors as an exciting opportunity to revamp and re-organize the system for future endeavors. Ashlea, saw an marvelous way to connect the institutions, businesses, and churches of Jackson with their neighbors in need. As they better understood their different approaches they began to see every situation through new perspectives. Here are some of their thoughts on what they have been learning and doing this summer.
He Said:
One thing I’ve noticed in my time here is a definite lack of skill with electronics. Much of what I’ve been up to has been working with people to get email addresses, check social security benefits online, fill out job applications, and pursue enrollment in college. I’m finding that most of the folks here have little to no functioning knowledge of computers. More and more in America, that is a liability. As employers shift their applications to electronic systems, those that society has forgotten will find themselves at further disadvantage. Nowhere has this been made more evident to me than in the past week. I’ve been helping a gentleman get things sorted out so that he can go to Hinds Community College, but to enroll one must have a FAFSA filled out. The easiest way (for most people) is to do this online, but one must first get a PIN from the government, which requires an email address. Obviously, this is an interlocking system, and the only way for people to get into it is to have working ability on computers.
She Said:
Not only are things more difficult for someone who has never been taught technical skills often the difficulties are compounded by the lack of opportunity to acquire such skills. One of the projects I have been fortunate enough to work on this summer is a GED and job training resource guide. I’ve been astounded at the amount of phone calls, time, and energy that are needed to track down the information. The options are out there, they are just sometimes difficult to find. Though some may not possess the specific skills to track down such information I find it hopeful that there is work being done to enable people the options and opportunities they are searching for.
He Said:
Since I got here in June, I’ve noticed that Heather-- and all the people at Stewpot-- wear a lot of different hats. The job description might say one thing, but it quickly gets expanded as the situation requires it. The work that people are able to accomplish is incredible, but I can’t help but wondering if folks would be less overworked if there were more hands to help. Obviously, this cannot happen, as more people means more money. Having even one more person who could come to the Opportunity Center, even just in the morning, would make what is sometimes a very hectic situation less overwhelming for all involved.
She Said:
There are often many things going on at one time at the Opportunity Center; a sign needs fixed, food drive boxes need picked up, a persons animal needs rescuing, and then the computer breaks…again. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the confusion and frustration of it all. Still, I have found that even in the midst of the most crazy situations there are bright, shining, hopeful moments. When I was tackling the closet, one of the men came and helped me the whole time; he is a great leader and we had a great conversation (plus, we got the closet done!). The lost cat that was on the porch one day seemed to bring a lot of guys together and inspire conversation. It is all those little moments and individual people that make the confusion bearable.
He Said:
Sometimes I hear folks insinuate that the homeless or unemployed are in the situations they’re in because of laziness. I certainly have not seen that scenario play out this summer. As holed up as we’ve been doing Christmas in July, some of the folks using the Opportunity Center must have gotten tired of seeing boxes constantly going out to my car to be delivered. But every time we had a large load of those things to move around, people jumped forward to make the job go faster. Now we’ve moved from delivering boxes to picking them up as some locations have collected copious amounts of foodstuffs to donate. I picked up a load from the DOT that had my car filled to the brim, and so weighed down it looked like I was heading back to college with all my stuff in the car with me. Once I got to Stewpot with the food, several gentlemen came forward to assist me in emptying my car again, happy, I suppose, to contribute their abilities in a concrete way. I went down to Sak’s to pick up a truckload of donation, some of which may have weighed more than I do, with Tim, and without his help… I may have been crushed under non-perishables. Once we got back to Stewpot, we set up a veritable conveyor belt of folks moving in and out of the building to get the truck unloaded. Lazy? I think not.
She Said:
I completely agree with Chris about the great inconsistencies between the general public’s view of the homeless and my experience this summer. I have come to know a number of the individual men and women and I honestly enjoy being able to spend time with them, in whatever form that may take. There are moments, however, when I feel like my presence here is somewhat hopeless and I would just like to leave. These feelings are usually brought on by a small minority of men who feel that is ok to be crude and demeaning. Though they are the minority, they can sometimes be overwhelming and tiresome but, instead of being upset or angry I try to remind myself of how few they are. Though there are homeless or unemployed people that are products of their own actions and laziness, they are the few. It is easy to assume that the actions of a few accurately reflect the mindset of the majority but, it is simply not true.

I thought we were creative :)
Peace!